Lighting system for toy vehicles



' D 12 1933. H. T. KINGSBURY LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR TOY VEHICLES Filed March 8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l QW. mN QN .mx WN www mv @N @wd @QN U Dec. l2, 1933.

H. lT. KINGSBURY LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR TOY VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1935 @W mw Nw 1..-- KW l,

Patented Dec. 12,1933 Y Y Y v UNITED STATES dMTENT orrlcs LIGHTING SYSTEM Fon TOY VEHICLES Harry T. Kingsbury,` Keene, N. H., assgnor to Kingsbury Mfg. Company, Keene, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire v Application March, 1933. Serial No. 660,074 `11 Claims. (Cl. A16-#18)- This invention relates to improvements in toy Fig. 6 is a sectional View, taken along line 6 6 vehicles, and more particularly the invention of Fig. 5, showing the spring connection for the relates to improvements in an electric lightingV switch. y I system and a switch mechanism for` toy vehicles. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing anhaving illuminating means at spaced intervals. n. other form of switch. v 6o An object of the present invention is to provide Fig. 8 is a side elevation, in section, of the a toy vehicle wherein the chassis is adapted to same. support a battery, conductor andswitch mecha- Ihe improvements afforded by the present nism and wherein the Vbattery is adapted 4to be invention have been illustrated in the drawingsas 1o shifted in the support therefor by the action of applied to a toy street car, but it is to be under- 65 the switch mechanism in order to insure a lperstood that the invention may be applied to any fect electrical connection. electrically lighted toy vehicle. The body por- A further object of the invention is to provide tion 10 is provided with light supports 11 in vwhich a toy vehicle having light supports and wherein are inserted light bulbs. The body 10 is secured a conductor member is adapted to extend from to a chassis 12 by means of suitable tongues which l 70 one light support to another with an intermediate fit in openings in the chassis. i The chassis is probatte'ry connection. vided with a motor 13 and suitable axle supports A further object of the invention is to provide, 14. The, battery 15 is insertedv inan opening 16 in a toy vehicle of the type referred to, an electriin the chassis which is ,provided with fingers 17 20 calconductor having resilient connections with directed over fthe opening. Aplate 18 having 75 l the lights and the battery. flanges V19 is adapted to support the battery by A still further-object ofthe invention is to prosliding the flanges 19 thereon into the flanges 20 vide, in a toy vehicle of the type referred to, an on the chassis.j The battery 15 is loosely mounted improved switch mechanism for completing the for shifting Vmovement which is caused by the light circuit wherein the switch is resiliently switchgmechanism to be hereinafter described. 80

urged into electrical contact with the battery. Friction brackets 21 are mounted on the chas- A still further object of the invention is to sis at spaced intervals. A` folded insulating provide, V in a toy Vehicle of the type referred to, member 22 is mounted between the fingers 23 on an electric lighting system lwherein the battery each of theY brackets. An electrical conductor 3o is shifted slightly upon engagement with the or bus-bar '24: extending substantially the entire 85 switch whereby to insure a positive electrical length of the vehicle is mounted in theA insulatconnection. Y ing members 22 which are mounted in the brack- The invention still lfurther aims to providevan ets 2l, WhChASIVGO SHPIJI" the vbllS-bfil'- The 4electrically lighted toy vehicle, of the type re` bus-bar24 is twisted, as at 25 on each side of ferred to;` which is inexpensive to manufacture, the battery,"to extend in a vertical plane to the 90 which is thoroughly reliable in operationand lights.z Beyond each ofthe brackets 21 the bus` which is strong and durable so that it will not bar is bent -to formY resilient ends 26 which are be damaged in transportation or in use, wherebyV adaptedto` contact with the light bulb terminals Vto prevent misadjustment of the battery contacts. -f27- The bus-bal iS Provided With a 01111 ent C011- 4()` These and other objects of the invention will 'ducting' member 28 Awhich has a contact point 95 be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully 29Aadapted to engagea terminal of the, battery. described. An insulating member 30 is secured to the chassis In the drawings: .Y 'to prevent the member 2S from contacting there- Fig. 1 is aside elevation showing the completed with. V toy. The switch mechanism, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 41,00

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of 'the same with and 6 of the drawings, will nowbe described in the wheels omitted. detail. The switch lever comprises a handle por- Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation showing the tion Bland arcontact portion 32 integral thereimproved lighting system on the chassis of the with and extending at an angle thereto.' A vehicle. Y Y Y bracketV member 33 is provided with an upright 105 Y Y Fig.4r is a fragmentary plan view of the same portion 33a which has an opening 34 which regis- Yshowing one end thereof. Y ters with an opening 35 in the switch handle. A Fig. 5 is an end view, taken along line 5 5 of resilient member 36 is provided with an offset Fig. 4, showingthe switch mechanism and bat-v .portion 3'7V which. passes through the openings 5 5 tery. 434 and .35 and is adaptedto form the pivot about 110 tact arm thereof Vin ordernto insure .proper iconwhich the switch is adapted to be moved. The opposite end of the resilient member 36 is provided with a tongue portion 38 which is supported in a cut-out portion 39 in another upstanding portion 40 of the bracket 33. The resilient member is bent to form a bearing surface 41 which constantly presses upon the contact arm 32 of the switch, thus insuring a proper contact when the circuitis to be completed inasmuch `as the resilient member 36 gives a variable throw to the contact arm 32. The usual eyelet bearing for the switch lever does not aord enough resilience and it often happens that the contact arm becomes slightly bent so that it is impossible to obtain a good contact with the battery terminal. The present arrangement of switch mechanism provides a spring action to constantly urge the contact arm toward the battery and at the same time afords a pivot point about which the switch lever operates. A,v clip v42 on the portion 32a`is adapted to hold anzinsulating member 43 between the battery and the bracket 33. The handle portion of the switch lever 31 has an angular portion 31a adapted tobe grasped'by the operator for moving the switch. When the switch lever is moved in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 5) the contact point 32a on the portion 32 will engage the terminal 44 of the battery 15 thus completing an electric circuit through the bus-bar 24. The circuit is grounded through the vehicle. When .the switch lever is moved to contact the 'battery terminal .44, there will not be any contact between 'the bus-bar and switch.

'Ihe action of the spring '36 urges the contact point 32IIL .of the portion 32'into tight `engagement` with `the :battery terminal, vthus .shif ting the .battery in its lseat so Vthat the zinc terminal will contact with the point 29 Yon `the c'onductor'. Upon .breaking the switch contact, the battery, .upon use of the vehicle, will shift away from Ithe `member 28 kso that the switch wilLagain perform itsfunction whenthe lights .are tobe turned on.

Another rform .of Vswitch mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 7 and. This switch vlever `comprisesa 'cam 'surface 45 anda handle portion 46 which risoffset to ypermit operation ofthe switch Airormbeneath the vehicle. The switchA lever is *"mountedifor rotation on the chassis of the vehicle by an eyelet bearing 47. 'When the switch is moved in -a clockwise direction (Fig. "7), the cam vsurface will engage the 'battery terminal 44 and urge the battery forward slightly'tocontact with `the -point 29 -on the conductor 28. `The cam surface, in itself, affords a icontact portion with 4a variable' throw.

Itis thus apparentthat the present .invention -provides a novel Ylighting system for `toy vehicles wherein lthe battery may .be `loosely mounted ywithout positive securing means and wherein Lthe switch mechanism is adapted to 'shift the .bat- Y tery in A(order to complete thek electricv circuitf through the [bus-'bar to vthe 'light 'bulbs and 'grounding through 'the chassis. The spring clip on the switchmechanism (Figs. 4, 5.and '6),pro-

vides a uniformfriction on the switch to insure.

proper electrical contact. Thus -'the dangerv of bending any retainingstrip is done away with and `at the same time, the switch mechanism insures a,Y proper contact bylshiftingfthe .battery slightly. Itis also possible, with the present invention, to accommodate batteries of slightly` different lengths due to 'theresilient sWitch.mechanism which affords a variable throw to the contact. The 'bus-bar 'supporting ybrackets 'and the .in"1ine with .said battery.

terminal of saidebattery, and a switch mechanism contact pmition vtoia fnormal. position.

switch bracket may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the chassis of the vehicle.

It is, of course, apparent that minor changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iszl. In a toy Vehicle carrying light bulbs spaced apart, a battery, means for loosely mounting said battery on the vehicle, a conductor extending from one light bulb to another, an auxiliary contact adapted to connect one battery terminal with said conductor, and switch means for engaging one battery terminal to shift the battery into electrical contact with said auxiliary contact, said switch means including a movable member having a contact portion which has a variable throw in line with said battery terminal and means for returning said contact portion .to .a normal position.

2. In a .toy vehicle, having a chassis and carryinglight bulbs spaced apart, means for loosely mounting a .battery on .said chassis, a bus-bar extending between said light bulbs and having4 adepending portion .adapted vto engage one ter- `rninal of .the battery, and .a switch mechanism Eadapted .to engagefthe other battery terminal,

said .switch mechanism being .adapted toshift the .battery whereby to make contact between rthe otherV battery terminal .and said depending portion .on the conductor and. including a movable said .light bulbs and .said battery, @and .aswitch Y- mechanism for operating the light circuit, said` switch mechanism includingfa ,pivotedflever and .resilient .means for urging said lever toward-the battery .whereby to insure la luniform connection.

4. ln a toy vehicle, havinga chassis, va battery,-

.means `fair supporting ythe .battery .onthe chassis"1 for shifting movement, -a conductor adapted to engage one .terminal of .the batteryand ,adapted .to `.connect suitable .light bulbs therewith, Iand -means tor v.shifting the, battery lengthwise to complete Vthe light circuit, .said means including '125 a movable member having a contact lportion .adapted to assume ,any one of .several positions V5. In a toy vehicle .carrying light. bulbs spaced.

batterygonthe vehicle, .a unitary conductor member .extending vfrom A.one light bulb .terminalto another, saidvconduotor .member .having .an intermediate contact portionfadapted -to yengage one` including a Contact portion having .a variable throw in line with said batter-y terminal vwhereby :toinsure :proper contact with .the other terminal of said battery and means for returning :said

6. In a toy vehicle carrying .light bulbs spaced '.apart,1a battery, :means for mounting said bat- ;tery on :the vehicle, a conductor member :extending from one light bulb terminal to-.ano'ther Jandl'having Van intermediate `portion adapted to engage one battery terminal, and a `switchmechanism 4for =engagingthe vother battery terminal, said switch mechanism `inc'ludinga pivotedflever,

, apart, .a battery, means yfor loosely mounting said"130 and a spring member adapted to bear against said lever to normally urge the lever toward the battery terminal. f

'7. In a toy vehicle carrying light bulbs spaced apart, a battery, means for mounting said battery on the vehicle, a conductor member extended on said bracket and adapted to engage the other battery terminal, and a spring member having one end thereof connected to said bracket and having the other end thereof bearing against said lever whereby to urge the same toward the battery terminal.

8. In a toy vehicle carrying light bulbs spaced apart, a battery, means for mounting said battery on the vehicle, a conductor member extending from one light bulb terminal to another and having an intermediate portion thereof adapted to engage one battery terminal, and a switch mechanism to complete an electric circuit, said switch mechanism including a` lever adapted to engage the other battery terminal, and a spring member adapted to urge said lever toward the battery and providing a pivotal support for said lever.

9. In a toy vehicle carrying light bulbs spaced apart, a battery, means for mounting said battery on the vehicle, a unitary conductor member extending from one light bulb terminal' to another and having an intermediate portion adapted to engage one battery terminal, said conductor member having the end portions thereof bent at substantially right angles to the plane thereof and having the extreme ends rebent adjacent the right angle end portions whereby to provide resilient ends to engage the light terminals, spaced brackets mounted on the vehicle for supporting saidV conductor member, and switch means for completing 'an electric lighting circuit.

10. In a toy vehicle carrying light bulbs spaced apart, a battery, Ameans for mounting the battery on said vehicle, a unitary conductor member extending between the terminals of said light bulbs and having an intermediate portion adapted to engage one battery terminal, said conductor hav- Y ing resilient ends adapted to engage the light bulb terminals, spaced brackets mounted on the vehicle and adapted to support said conductor, each of said brackets comprising a base portion and upstanding resilient arms adapted to receive an insulating member and said conductor, and switch means for completing an electric lighting circuit. Y

11. In a toy vehicle carrying light bulbs at opposite ends thereof, a battery, means for mounting said battery on the vehicle between said light bulbs, a unitary conductor member extending between said light bulbs, said conductor member having a depending portion adapted to contact one battery terminal, spaced brackets mounted on said vehicle and adapted to support said conductor member over said battery, and

. switch means including a contact portion adapt- HARRY T. KINGSBURY. 

